Coroner slams neighbours of Rochdale man, 64, who died of heart attack after row over loud music

A coroner has slammed neighbours of a man who died of a heart attack after a row over loud music. Patrick Gallagher, 64, was found collapsed at his Rochdale home after a ‘ghetto blaster’ was put on his doorstep. He died in hospital three days later. Now an inquest into the tragedy has ruled that the retired teacher’s death was caused ‘by the stress of being a victim of anti-social behaviour’.

Patrick Gallagher died of a heart attack following a row with neighbours over loud music

A coroner has slammed neighbours of a man who died of a heart attack after a row over loud music.

Patrick Gallagher, 64, was found collapsed at his Rochdale home after a ‘ghetto blaster’ was put on his doorstep. He died in hospital three days later.

Now an inquest into the tragedy has ruled that the retired teacher’s death was caused ‘by the stress of being a victim of anti-social behaviour’.

Five people were arrested after Mr Gallagher’s death in August last year – but all were later released without charge.

The inquest has earlier heard how Mr Gallagher’s wife Susan had earlier gone out into the street to find out where loud music was coming from. She returned home, and as she was discussing what to do next with her husband, the couple suddenly heard the music even louder.

Mr Gallagher then went outside and became involved in a doorstep row with neighbour John Butterworth and Stephen and Sharon Maloney.

Susan Gallagher told the inquest she called the police after Stephen Maloney repeatedly threatened Mr Gallagher, before lunging at him on the doorstep.

But when she returned from the call everyone had disappeared from the doorstep, the music had been switched off and she found her husband of 32 years collapsed in a doorway of his home on Market Street, Healey.

Recording a narrative verdict, coroner Simon Nelson said: "The behaviour on the part of the others involved was wholly provocative and was intended only to elicit a response.

"I accept that neither you nor they could have seen the extreme consequences that resulted.

"Those that were arrested that night will know how close they have got to being charged with offences of manslaughter and by a whisper they have been relieved of that burden.

"I like to think the consequences of their actions will remain with them in their conscience and have an effect on how they will react in the future.

"Patrick Gallagher responded on the night in a manner that any reasonable individual would have responded.

"Mr Gallagher died of a coronary thrombosis wholly precipitated by the stress of being a victim of anti-social behaviour outside his home."

A pathologist had earlier told the inquest that Mr Gallagher suffered a blood clot ‘as a direct result of this incident’.

Victim's daughter: ‘My parents were singled out on purpose’

PATRICK Gallagher was singled out by ‘mob-handed’ neighbours who repeatedly held late night parties, his daughter Catherine told the hearing.

Catherine Gallagher asked the coroner to record a verdict of unlawful killing and described the neighbours’ actions as ‘disgraceful and completely unacceptable’.

She said: "The situation brought to our front door was aggressive. These individuals, singled out our family on purpose.

"This aggressive harassment was brought mob-handed by a group of 40-year-olds to my parents’ house, who are both in their 60s. This is a horrendous situation for any person to have to deal with and I would not wish it on any other human being."

Speaking after the hearing Susan Gallagher said the family were now hoping to move on.

She added: "We were of course hoping that the inquest would be able to make the connection between the medical evidence and the incident on the night.

"Mr Nelson gave a very strong narrative verdict, we are very pleased with what he said.

"But it does leave us without closure and it is very frustrating. I would like to put what happened behind us and cherish the good memories of Pat. It will be hard to see the people involved day in and day out but we have a very strong family and great friends.

"We had a good life and I don’t want our lives to be dragged down any more. Pat can’t be replaced or brought back."

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